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From impact assessments towards proactive citizen engagement in EU cohesion policy

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  • John R. Moodie
  • Viktor Salenius
  • Michael Kull

Abstract

European Union (EU) policymakers and academics regard impact assessments as the primary mechanism for communicating the added value of EU Cohesion Policy to citizens. There is a need to look beyond impact evaluations and towards active citizen engagement in policymaking to increase support for EU cohesion policies. This article examines the benefits and different types of legitimacy that citizen involvement confers upon policymaking, before outlining recommendations for proactively engaging citizens within existing EU cohesion policymaking structures. It is argued that citizen engagement fosters greater input and throughput legitimacy into the process, which supplements the output legitimacy bestowed by impact assessments. Los formuladores de políticas y académicos de la Unión Europea (UE) consideran que las evaluaciones de impacto son el principal mecanismo para comunicar a los ciudadanos el valor añadido de la Política de Cohesión de la UE. Es necesario mirar más allá de las evaluaciones de impacto y hacia la participación activa de los ciudadanos en la elaboración de políticas para aumentar el apoyo a las políticas de cohesión de la UE. Este artículo estudia los beneficios y los diferentes tipos de legitimidad que la participación de la ciudadanía confiere a la formulación de políticas, antes de ofrecer recomendaciones para involucrar proactivamente a los ciudadanos en las estructuras existentes de formulación de políticas de cohesión de la UE. Se sostiene que la participación de la ciudadanía fomenta una mayor legitimidad de los insumos y el rendimiento del proceso, lo que complementa la legitimidad de los resultados conferida por las evaluaciones de impacto. 欧州連合 (EU)の政策立案者や学者は、影響の評価を、EU統合政策の付加価値を市民に伝えるための主要なメカニズムとみなしている。EUの結束政策へのより多くの支持を集めるには、影響の評価だけでなく、市民の政策立案への積極的な関与に目を向ける必要がある。本稿では、市民の参加が政策決定にもたらす利益と様々な正当性を検証し、EUの政策決定の既存の構造の範囲で市民を積極的に参加させるための提言を概説する。市民の参加は、プロセスへのインプットとスループットの正当性の向上を促進し、影響の評価によって得られるアウトプットの正当性を補完するものである。

Suggested Citation

  • John R. Moodie & Viktor Salenius & Michael Kull, 2022. "From impact assessments towards proactive citizen engagement in EU cohesion policy," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(5), pages 1113-1132, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rgscpp:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:1113-1132
    DOI: 10.1111/rsp3.12473
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    References listed on IDEAS

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